Zürcher Filmstiftung

What Zürcher Filmstiftung does

The Zürcher Filmstiftung is a Swiss foundation established in 2004 that provides public funding for professional film creation in the Canton of Zurich. It operates a multi-instrument funding ecosystem covering the full film lifecycle: three-stage development funding (maximum CHF 100,000 total), production funding disbursed as conditionally repayable loans (maximum CHF 1 million), marketing and distribution support (maximum CHF 100,000), and a Werkbeitrag stipend of CHF 30,000 for screenwriters. The foundation also runs specialized programs including the Fast Track competition for emerging directing and production talent (up to CHF 320,000 per project) and a Digital Culture program covering games, VR, AR, and interactive digital projects (up to CHF 150,000 per project). In 2019 it assumed responsibility for awarding the annual Zürcher Filmpreis, distributing CHF 140,000 in prize money across five categories including Best Short Film, Best Documentary, Best Feature Film, Best Game, and Best XR.

The foundation's technology backbone is the Online Platform at online.filmstiftung.ch, a web-based portal where filmmakers register, submit funding applications, and track project status across funding stages. Applications are reviewed by Fachkommissionen (expert commissions) organized by discipline. The foundation also rents two meeting rooms (Sitzungszimmer EINS and ZWEI) to film industry organizations on a daily or half-day basis, with film industry organizations receiving a discount.

As a public Stiftung under cantonal authority, Zürcher Filmstiftung receives public funding and redistributes those resources as grants and conditionally repayable loans rather than generating commercial revenue. Its counterparties are professional film production companies, experienced screenwriters and directors, distribution companies, and digital culture creators who must meet tax-residence and professional-experience criteria in Canton Zurich. The foundation coordinates with national partners including BAK Sektion Film, Swiss Films, Cinesuisse, MEDIA Desk Suisse, Cinémathèque Suisse, and the European CineRegio network, and requires funded productions to deposit masterfiles with Cinémathèque Suisse. Management consists of Geschäftsführer Hercli Bundi and deputy managing director Susa Katz, supported by a Stiftungsrat (board of trustees) and Fachkommissionen.

Name

Zürcher Filmstiftung

Legal name

Zürcher Filmstiftung

Website

https://filmstiftung.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Zürcher Filmstiftung is a Swiss public foundation, established 2004, that distributes cantonal film funding in Zurich across development, production, marketing, distribution, digital culture, and newcomer programs, serving professional producers, screenwriters, and interactive-media creators in Canton Zurich.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Funding

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (512110), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)

akta.pro primary industry

Financing & Investment (Equity, Debt, Gap, Slate) (MPADAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Grant Funding & Public/Nonprofit Financing (MPADAAAO), Media Arts & Film/Photography Nonprofits (BPAGAHAJ)

Keywords

• Film production financing
• Film development grants
• Screenwriter stipends
• Digital culture funding
• Distribution support

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Operations: Zürcher Filmstiftung is a public foundation that provides financial support to film projects in Canton Zurich. As a funding organization, it distributes grants and conditionally repayable loans rather than generating commercial revenue. The foundation receives public funding and allocates it to support the local film industry.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Zürcher Filmstiftung is a cantonal film foundation that provides financial support to professional film projects in Canton Zurich through grants and conditionally repayable loans. It funds the full lifecycle of a film — script development, production, marketing, and distribution — alongside dedicated programs for digital culture and emerging talent, and operates an annual film prize plus ancillary meeting room rentals for industry use.

Product overview

Zürcher Filmstiftung is a film funding foundation for the Canton of Zurich that operates a multi-faceted funding ecosystem. The core offering includes an Online Platform for application management and several funding programs: Development (3-stage script/project development), Production (manufacturing of films), Distribution/Marketing (Auswertung), Digital Culture (interactive digital creations), Fast Track (competition for emerging talent), Werkbeitrag (screenwriter stipends), and Referenzmittel/Succès Zürich (success-based credits). The foundation also awards the annual Zürcher Filmpreis in five categories totaling CHF 140,000. Additionally, two meeting rooms are available for rental. The organization connects to partner institutions including Cinémathèque Suisse for film archiving and operates in coordination with national and international film funding bodies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Onlineplattform (Online Application Platform) Web-based application portal that allows filmmakers and digital culture creators to register, submit funding applications, track project status, and manage communications with the foundation across all funding stages.
• Entwicklung (Development Funding) Three-stage funding supporting scriptwriting and project development, from initial treatment through screenplay completion to production preparation, with maximum funding of CHF 100,000 total.
• Herstellung (Production Funding) Production funding for narrative films (fiction, non-fiction, animation) awarded as conditionally repayable loans with maximum support of CHF 1 million including prior selective development contributions.
• Auswertung (Distribution/Marketing Funding) Funding for marketing, promotion, and distribution activities including automatic distribution support based on cinema admissions and selective marketing campaign support up to CHF 100,000.
• Digitale Kultur (Digital Culture Funding) Funding program for interactive digital creations including prototypes, production with market potential, and ecosystem strengthening initiatives with maximum funding of CHF 150,000 per project.
• Fast Track Competition Competition providing low-threshold support for production of short and feature films with special artistic merit, targeting emerging talent in directing and production with maximum funding of CHF 320,000.
• Zürcher Filmpreis (Zurich Film Prize) Annual film prize awarded across categories including Best Short Film, Best Documentary, Best Feature Film, Best Game, and Best XR, with total prize money of CHF 140,000.
• Sitzungszimmer (Meeting Room Rentals) Two meeting rooms available for daily or half-day rental to external parties, equipped with conference facilities, projectors, and catering options. Film industry organizations receive a discount.
• Werkbeitrag (Work Grant) Stipend of CHF 30,000 for eligible screenwriters enabling independent story development, with submission deadlines in January and July.
• Referenzmittel / Succès Zürich (Reference Funds) Credit system rewarding successful Zurich filmmakers based on festival success and cinema admissions, which can be reinvested into new film projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• Zürcher Filmpreis provides CHF 140,000 in annual prize money to outstanding film works
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Aargauer KuratoriumminorOthersCantonal film funding body for Aargau. Collaborates on regional film support coordination.
• BAK Sektion FilmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal Office of Culture's Film Division. Provides national-level film funding and policy coordination with regional foundations.
• Basler FilmförderungminorOthersJoint film funding for Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft cantons. Regional collaboration.
• Berner FilmförderungminorOthersCantonal film funding body for Bern. Regional coordination partner.
• CinéforomminorOthersFilm funding body for French-speaking Swiss cantons. Represents the Romandie region in national film funding coordination.
• CinesuissecoreOthersUmbrella organization for Swiss film, audiovisual, and multimedia industry. Key coordination body for the entire Swiss film sector.
• CineRegiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean network of regional film funding bodies. Enables cross-border collaboration and co-production opportunities for ZFS-supported projects.
• FocalminorOthersSwiss foundation providing education and professional development programs for the film industry. Training and skill development partner.
• MEDIA Desk SuissecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport, consulting and networking for Swiss film industry in European context. Helps connect Swiss projects with EU MEDIA Programme opportunities.
• SSFV SchweizminorOthersSwiss Syndicate for Film and Video. Represents crew and cast professionals, strengthening the film location Switzerland.
• SuissimageminorOthersSwiss cooperative for copyright in audiovisual works. Distributes cultural fund and solidarity fund contributions to rights holders.
• Swiss FilmscoreOthersPromotion agency for Swiss film. Provides festival support, international visibility, and promotional services for Swiss productions.
• Zentralschweizer FilmförderungminorOthersFilm funding body for Central Swiss cantons. Regional coordination partner.
• Zürich für den FilmcoreOthersOrganization advocating for Zurich film creation. One of the initiators of the Zürcher Filmstiftung foundation.
• Film Commission ZurichminorOthersOrganization supporting filming locations in Zurich. Helps productions find shooting locations and provides production support.
• Sustainable ArtsminorOthersOrganization promoting sustainability in the arts sector. Provides resources for environmentally responsible film production.
• Cinémathèque SuissecoreOthersNational film archive where supported productions must deposit masterfiles. Required archiving partner for all ZFS-funded productions.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Swiss Films: Swiss national film promotion agency, a core ZFS partner. Comparable as a complementary Swiss film ecosystem institution focused on international festival promotion rather than direct funding.
• CineRegio: European network of regional film funding bodies of which ZFS is a member. Comparable as the umbrella coordination body enabling cross-border co-production across European regional funds.
• Focal (Swiss Film Training Foundation): Swiss foundation providing education and professional development programs for the film industry. Comparable as a complementary Swiss film ecosystem foundation partnering with ZFS.

Direct peers

• Basler Filmförderung: Joint film funding body for Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft cantons. Directly comparable as a Swiss regional film foundation and ZFS coordination partner.
• Berner Filmförderung: Cantonal film funding body for Bern, listed as a ZFS regional coordination partner. Directly comparable as a Swiss regional film fund with analogous development/production grant programs.
• Aargauer Kuratorium: Cantonal film funding body for Aargau, explicitly listed as a ZFS partner. Directly comparable as a Swiss regional film foundation serving a different canton with overlapping programs (development, production) and similar structure.
• Cinéforom: Film funding body for the French-speaking Swiss cantons (Romandie). Directly comparable as a Swiss regional film fund, formally partnered with ZFS for national coordination.
• Zentralschweizer Filmförderung: Film funding body for Central Swiss cantons. Directly comparable regional peer serving a multi-canton consortium in the same Swiss ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• BAK Sektion Film (Federal Office of Culture - Film Division): Switzerland's federal film funding body, listed as a core ZFS partner. Comparable as a higher-level film funder providing national-level grants and policy coordination with complementary (not competing) cantonal remit.
• FFA (Filmförderungsanstalt): Germany's national film funding institute, comparable as a larger, well-established European film financing body. Relevant as a broader-incumbent international benchmark for national-level public film-funding architecture.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks3 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/z%C3%BCrcher-filmstiftung/?viewAsMember=true

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Zürcher Filmstiftung